Local News

Day Two: Deputy Cindy Benner Trial

• October 6, 2023

Day two for Deputy Cindy Benner Trial in Ashland Municipal Court on Four Charges of Dereliction of Duty brought a surprising ending when the state rested and the defense requested a Rule 29 motion.

You may ask, What is a Rule 29 motion in Ohio? I had to Google it.

According to Google:

“The court on motion of a defendant or on its own motion, after the evidence on either side is closed, shall order the entry of a judgment of acquittal of one or more offenses charged in the indictment, information, or complaint, if the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses.”

Ashland Municipal Court Judge John L. Good grants the motion dismissing two of the four charges.

The trial is expected to end today.

Day One for the Deputy Cindy Benner Trial

Day One for the Deputy Cindy Benner Trial including Jury selection. Court video with clear audio

Attorney General Yost Provides Legal Analysis of State Issues 1 and 2 Ahead of November Vote

• October 5, 2023

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is providing Ohioans with vital clarity and transparency in anticipation of the Nov. 7 vote on State Issue 1 and State Issue 2, two contentious citizen-initiated ballot proposals.

The First Amendment safeguards even wrong information, Yost noted, and the government largely lacks the authority to restrain information. To help ensure a meaningful and accurate public discourse on the two initiatives, the Attorney General directed two teams from his office – one for each issue – to conduct legal analyses of both. These are not policy analyses, but legal analyses – not “why,” but “what.”

“Ohio voters deserve an impartial resource that offers an objective analysis of the legal implications of both citizen-initiated initiatives,” Yost said. “The decision regarding which policy path is best for Ohio lies with voters, not with me.”

Issue 1 is a constitutional amendment that deals with reproductive rights and abortion, and Issue 2 is a proposed statute on recreational use of marijuana.

“The people of Ohio hired me to do a job,” Yost said. “I owe it to them to give them accurate information so they can make informed decisions. This work is for them.”

Led by the Attorney General, separate teams of attorneys and professional staff conducted the analyses, meticulously reviewing the appropriate citizen-initiated initiatives, discussing them at length, and preparing comprehensive explanations of their legal implications.

The final versions offer clarity in some areas and acknowledge the potential for legal disputes in others – without resorting to speculative projections.

To read the Attorney General’s legal explanations of State Issues 1 and 2, visit www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Ballot-Initiatives.

Deputy Cindy Benner Trial Started Today in Ashland Municipal Court

• October 4, 2023

Deputy Cindy Benner Trial Started Today in Ashland Municipal Court on Four Charges of Dereliction of Duty

Cindy Benner, an Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, appeared in the Ashland Municipal Court, before Judge, John L. Good and a jury, for her Trial concerning four charges of dereliction of duty.

Benner was charged on March 2, 2023, by Ashland’s law director, Rick Wolfe, and plead not guilty on March 10, 2023.

Trial resumes at 9am tomorrow.

A second-degree misdemeanor is punishable by, up to 90 days in jail, and a maximum $750 fine, under Ohio law.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Mansfield

• October 4, 2023

Madison Township — The Mansfield Patrol Post responded to a report of a one vehicle crash on Mansfield Lucas Road near Illinois Avenue, in Madison Township, at 2:02 AM.

The preliminary investigation shows a 2014 Harley Davidson Street Glide was traveling southeast on Mansfield Lucas Road.

The Harley Davidson was driven by Mason C. Clover, 23, of Butler, Ohio. The Harley Davidson traveled off the left side of the roadway and down an embankment. Mr. Clover was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Mr. Clover was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

A portion of Mansfield Lucas Road was closed for approximately two hours during the investigation of the crash.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Madison Township Fire Department, and Laurence’s Towing assisted on the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

Tickets for AU’s 47th annual Madrigal Feaste on sale through Nov. 27

• October 3, 2023

Tickets are on sale now for the Madrigal Feaste, a beloved and long-standing tradition at Ashland University. The 47th annual event, presented by the AU Department of Music, will be held Thursday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 3, at Redwood Hall with doors opening at 6 p.m. each night and the royal procession beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Madrigal Feaste takes audiences back to “Merry Olde England,” a term that refers to the country’s powerful and prosperous Elizabethan period, for an evening of fine singing, original comedy, award-winning dining and cherished traditions.

The dinner theater includes performances throughout by the AU Chamber Singers, a select vocal ensemble on campus. They dress in authentic period-style costumes and sing traditional Christmas carols, ceremonial music and madrigals—a cappella love songs from 400 years ago that include themes and topics that are relatable today—while actors entertain theatrically, with comic relief provided by the commanding butler and the court jester.

The four-course-meal, served family style, features roast beef, roasted potatoes and carrots, cashew salad, rolls, cookies, figgy pudding and wassail. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available and can be selected when purchasing tickets.

All tickets must be purchased in advance (none are sold at the door) and are on sale through Monday, Nov. 27. They are available online at ashland.edu/performing-arts-tickets (credit card purchases will include an additional transaction fee) or in person at the AU Campus Store during normal business hours.

For more information, contact Ron Blackley, director of choral activities and professor of music at AU, at 419-289-5114 or rblackle@ashland.edu.

Update with Mayor Matt Miller 10-01-2023

• October 3, 2023

 

 Update with Mayor Matt Miller 10-01-2023

 

This Month’s Topics:

If you have a question for the Mayor please email them to pilyons@yahoo.com

Update on Claremont Avenue Project.

Follow up on year-end paving update.

Mansfield Plumbing Closing.

Follow up on Area Jobs and Hiring Places.

Mayor’s Annual Veterans Breakfast.

Ashland‘s Trick or Treat.

Notification of Ashland Leaf Pick up Program.

Update on Eagle Gas Station on Claremont Avenue.

Vision/Pumphouse Update.

Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area/ DORA.

I would like to give a huge shout-out to Bill Harris Dealerships for sponsoring the monthly updates with Ashland Mayor, Matt Miller.

This exciting endeavor will help to ensure that Ashland County Pictures (ACP) will be able to continue serving the Ashland area with breaking news, and up to date information.

I would like to thank the Ashland County Pictures supporters for their continued patronage without viewers like you, there would be no ACP.

https://www.facebook.com/billharrischevy

https://www.facebook.com/BillHarrisCDJR

https://www.facebook.com/BillHarrisFord

Ashland Young Professionals creates charitable fund

• October 2, 2023

ASHLAND – In just five years, Ashland Young Professionals has grown into a force for good in Ashland County.

After raising an impressive $15,000 through a recent “Putts for Pets” golf outing, AYP teamed up with Ashland County Community Foundation to make AYP’s charitable giving even more effective.

AYP’s steering committee brought the proceeds from the fundraiser to ACCF to establish a donor advised fund, and ACCF agreed to provide a $5,000 match to help grow the new fund.

 

 

The young professionals group then arranged for $7,000 to be given to each of their two chosen charities—the Homeward Bound Agency Fund in support of the new dog shelter and The Cat House Feline Sanctuary. They also used a portion of proceeds to buy pet product donations for both nonprofit organizations.

While all the money raised through the golf outing was passed through to directly benefit the animal-related charities, ACCF’s $5,000 matching grant will remain in the fund held at ACCF to serve as the fund’s floor—the minimum dollar amount required to maintain a charitable grantmaking fund at the foundation.

Fund dollars will be invested to grow over time, allowing AYP to give more effectively in the coming years. As donor advisors for the fund, AYP can contribute to the fund any time the group raises money through its fundraisers, such as the annual golf outing and the Ashland County Fair beer garden. The group can also make grants from available dollars in the fund at any time to any nonprofit or other qualifying organization.

Donor advised funds have become an increasingly popular fund type among individuals and families, but AYP is the first club in the community to establish one at ACCF.

ACCF President/CEO Jim Cutright is thrilled to see AYP thriving and giving back to the community through the foundation.

He noted that when Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce launched AYP in 2018, ACCF provided seed money for the program from the foundation’s strategic grantmaking pool.

“Often when you provide seed money for a new program, you don’t know how successful it will be,” he said. “So to see that AYP has been successful to the point that they are able to start their own fund for charitable giving is fantastic.”

Emily Grimm helps lead the AYP program as the program’s liaison from Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, where she works as director of membership and marketing.

Grimm said she and AYP’s steering committee members are pleased to be able to start the new fund. Steering committee members include Angela Ringler (Advantage Marketing), Alyssa McQuate (Appleseed Mental Health Center), Bri Noel (Edward Jones), Emily Pauly (Ashland Christian School/Eva’s Treas), Kristin Flickinger (Wayne Savings), Heather Claybaugh (Charles River), Jayla Hyde (Charles River), Matthew Lefelhoc (Whitcomb & Hess), Lindsey Hoover (Simonson Construction Services), Grant Denbow (Ashland Pump) and Jake Jones (Spreng-Smith).

“ACCF helped us get off the ground to start our organization, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without the foundation,” she said. “This fund will help us get our name out there more and help us to be more charitable.”

For AYP members, Grimm said, hosting group fundraisers for charitable causes is a way of making a collective impact.

“We see all the wonderful momentum in the community, and we want to be a part of that,” she said. “We want to give back and to be philanthropic in the community, but because of our age range, our group members don’t necessarily have the finances to be charitable givers.”

The group is excited to have grown the golf outing from 14 participating teams and $2,000 raised in the first year to 33 teams and $15,000 raised this year.

Grimm encouraged any young people in Ashland County between the ages of 21 and 40 to connect with AYP by following Ashland Young Professionals on Facebook and Instagram or visiting www.ashlandoh.com/programs/ayp/.

The group regularly hosts social events, professional development opportunities, fundraisers and community service projects.

“We don’t have a membership fee or any attendance requirements. We just hope you attend the events that sound fun and fit your schedule,” she said.

About Ashland Young Professionals: A program of Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, Ashland Young Professionals provides opportunities for young professionals to connect with one another, grow together, serve their community and make an impact in Ashland.

About Ashland County Community Foundation: Ashland County Community Foundation advances philanthropy and improves the quality of life in Ashland County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. ACCF has awarded over $27 million in scholarships, grants and distributions.

ASHLAND WEATHER